The Sikh community of Madera brought together more than 100 locals of different faiths for a candlelight vigil in memory of the slain children of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Varinder Nijjar, one of the organizers of the vigil, was pleased to see the large turnout despite a cold Wednesday night. “We feel the gap between the Sikh community and the American community needs to be brought together and this is an opportunity for that bridge to happen,” said Nijjar.

Brian Whelan, the Republican candidate for Congress in the last election, sent his regards supporting the vigil as did Madera City Councilman Gary Svanda.

Attendees were invited to partake of tea and sweets beforehand. During a prayer service from 5 to 6 p.m., Sikh priests read from the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs. In the final part of the prayer, everyone asked for peace for the souls of the victims of the Connecticut school shooting. After the vigil, everyone shared a dinner of rice, black garbanzo bean soup, eggplant dip, and hot flour tortillas, along with warm milk...